158g Fowlr

[elecbzerk]

Yeah Justin, will be great to me to see their faces light up when they see that fish in their house instead of on the PC screen. Just take awhile longer for me to either get a new set up built, or buy one from someone getting out of the hobby. (which if I'm patient, should happen. happens all the time) I will keep you guys updated as I go through it, though.

If your ever this way, lmk, I'll show "y'all" a good time...ROFL.

Seriously, thanks again for everything.

 

[JustinReef]

Sounds good.

Im going to start a thread with pics of my puffers. You can show your kids for now until you get your own.

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12645098#post12645098 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinpsmith
Sounds good.

Im going to start a thread with pics of my puffers. You can show your kids for now until you get your own.

Cool. the 5yo will love them. they still want me to show them the pic you posted on this thread. Can't wait to see..

 

[elecbzerk]

Ok, I have brought this older thread back out of remission because the deal is back on for this aquarium. (with ALOT of extras for the trouble on the deal). Anyway, here are the shots from it again.

So, the new question is, with the dogface puffer(if he survives his ich outbreak), can I have a Bluelined trigger and a niger trigger with it? any input?

 

[elecbzerk]

Any comments? Justin, Lisa, Pufferpunk?

 

[MeskeetDog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12742457#post12742457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elecbzerk


Ok, I have brought this older thread back out of remission because the deal is back on for this aquarium. (with ALOT of extras for the trouble on the deal). Anyway, here are the shots from it again.

So, the new question is, with the dogface puffer(if he survives his ich outbreak), can I have a Bluelined trigger and a niger trigger with it? any input?

I would say that they are going to snack on those nice corals you have going. I wouldnt do it. Even in a separate tank i think the Blue Line will harass the other fish. Typical Dr Jeckal and Mr Hyde scenerio

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12747084#post12747084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MeskeetDog
I would say that they are going to snack on those nice corals you have going. I wouldnt do it. Even in a separate tank i think the Blue Line will harass the other fish. Typical Dr Jeckal and Mr Hyde scenerio

Those nice corals are going into other tanks because this tank is going to ba a FOWLR for my boys. Some of the xenia and GSP will stay, if the fish leave it alone. As far as the triggers, Originally i wanted a clown, (still do) but after this thread and alot of research and asking others, it seems the clown will end up being too mean for the other fish. So, the bule line and the niger are nice looking too, would be nice if i could keep them both.

 

[LisaD]

I wouldn't keep a blue line with the puffer, due to size and aggression. I'd only risk a niger if you knew you'd upgrade to a larger tank eventually (and start with a small one). There are other good choices.

I know I'm repetitive about this, but an Australian harlequin tuskfish is a fantastic choice. Your boys would like the blue "fangs", and this fish is really gentle, but outgoing with a great appetite. It stays less than 12" too.

You could also keep a foxface, which is colorful, personable and hardy.

I have had great luck with medium sized hogfish. Cool fish with lots of personality, some are very colorful, and generally not bullies.

If you must have a trigger, consider a sargassum or blue throat. They stay moderate sized and are peaceful.

You are wise to take out the corals you like best and move them to your reef, just in case...

Beautiful tank! I'm glad your friend reconsidered.

 

[LisaD]

I have been away from the boards for a while and missed the ich outbreak in the puffer. I'll look for a thread... How are you treating it?

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12747454#post12747454 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
I wouldn't keep a blue line with the puffer, due to size and aggression. I'd only risk a niger if you knew you'd upgrade to a larger tank soon (and start with a small one). There are other good choices, let me think about it...

You are wise to take out the corals you like best and move them to your reef, just in case...

Beautiful tank! I'm glad your friend reconsidered.

Hey Lisa! Thanks for chiming in. Let me ask you, i guess you say the blue line is not good with a puffer because the blue line is the aggressor? BTW, I'm glad too, he threw in tons of extras too.

 

[LisaD]

I have not kept blue line triggers, but I have seen several very aggressive ones. I think they tend to be aggressive, as do all the triggers with genus names that include the letter ..bal.., e.g., Balistopus, Balistes, Pseudobalistes, Balistoides... I'd avoid all of these unless you have very rough and tumble tankmates, which dogface puffers are not.

I recently returned a Hawaiian pink tail trigger (among the "mellower" triggers) because it was beating up on my dogface puffer and harlequin tusk. I traded it for a porcupine puffer they've had since February, and all is peaceful now.

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12747607#post12747607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
I have been away from the boards for a while and missed the ich outbreak in the puffer. I'll look for a thread... How are you treating it?

I posted the pic in the "puffer pics" forum. I don't know if I posted the ich situation though. I had been PM'ing Justin for advice, he is a great guy. Treament, i lowered the salinity, and have been trying garlic and vitamins. Most of the week he really did not eat, maybe a nibble or two. I added several snails for him, tried musssels, frill, mysis. he will nibble at mysis some. Also, he has mostly been hiding too. I noticed the temp was low, and added a heater this morning. I think it helped because he has been very visible and swimming around much of the afternoon. hope he makes it, we have become attached to "Junior", my boys have named him.

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12747627#post12747627 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
I have not kept blue line triggers, but I have seen several very aggressive ones. I think they tend to be aggressive, as do all the triggers with genus names that include the letter ..bal.., e.g., Balistopus, Balistes, Pseudobalistes, Balistoides... I'd avoid all of these unless you have very rough and tumble tankmates, which dogface puffers are not.

I recently returned a Hawaiian pink tail trigger (among the "mellower" triggers) because it was beating up on my dogface puffer and harlequin tusk. I traded it for a porcupine puffer they've had since February, and all is peaceful now.

I really would like a trigger, I like the blue throat too. I have read many places that the Niger is peaceful as well.

 

[LisaD]

my Niger is peaceful so far, but I have heard of some, not all, getting aggressive with maturity. mine is about 3.5 inches, I've had it since it was just a little over 2 inches, and it is fine so far. Niger triggers are really beautiful. I don't know how long it takes for them to reach adult size or how big they normally get in aquaria. according to wetwebmedia and fishbase, they get ~18-20 inches as adults.

Here's a link:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/triggers/odonus/index.htm

Bluethroats will be the most available and reasonably priced choice.

If I were you, I'd get either a blue throat or sargassum. Second choice would be a Rhinecanthus trigger, such as a picasso. These are all considered relatively mellow and stay a foot or less in lenght. Here are two other links:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/triggers/xanthichthys/index.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/triggers/rhinecanthus/index.htm

Picassos are beautiful, easy to find, and not too expensive. I like the look of the Assasi triggers a lot, though I have never kept one.

 

[elecbzerk]

Thanks Lisa, once again you are a wealth of information and help. I guess more research is in order.

BTW- -Junior ate some mysis tonight, alot more than he has been eating.

 

[LisaD]

I think you might be fine trying a small Niger, as long as you realize it might "turn" and it might outgrow your tank. however, my experience with my kids is that they are distressed when 1) one fish is beating up on another, and 2) if attached, they will be upset if you have to take a fish out that is outgrowing the tank. in my own recent experience, mine were happy to see the bully trigger go, since "Puffy" is among their favorite fish.

I's great to hear that the puffer is eating. Puffers are pretty tough, especially when they don't start out thin (yours looked nice and filled out in the pics). I'm sure Justin will help you pull him out of this. My dogface had a nasty disease a while ago, and I had to treat the display because I had too many big fish to QT. I netted him out daily for 1 hour dips. It paid off, he is fine now, especially with the bully trigger gone. the trigger was dipped daily too - both made complete recoveries, and I didn't lose any fish.

there are other good sources of species research besides WWM, and I don't always agree with the articles. in general though, I think they are usually pretty accurate and reliable. I also trust Scott Michael's information, except I think his minimum tank recommendations are consistently on the low side.

 

[JustinReef]

I agree with everything Lisa has told you and would look into a Blue Throat and maybe a Picasso. They don't get too big and are very peaceful. You need peaceful triggers if you are going to keep them with Junior. A clown will get so aggressive and huge. I still think a pair of Blue Throats would be the best. They are so beautiful in pairs. The male has the bright yellow and the female does not but both are just amazing fish. They have a lot of personality.

Let me know how the ich treatment is going.

 

[elecbzerk]

Funny, I just PM'd you on the ich treatment.

 

[elecbzerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12751128#post12751128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinpsmith
I agree with everything Lisa has told you and would look into a Blue Throat and maybe a Picasso. They don't get too big and are very peaceful. You need peaceful triggers if you are going to keep them with Junior. A clown will get so aggressive and huge. I still think a pair of Blue Throats would be the best. They are so beautiful in pairs. The male has the bright yellow and the female does not but both are just amazing fish. They have a lot of personality.

Let me know how the ich treatment is going.

Yeah, right now a blue throat is on top of the trigger list. I reallllllly like the niger too., but obviously i don't want anyone picking on Junior. I plenty of time to decide though, I have alot of patience. I am supposed to do the tank move July 3/4. After that I am going to give the tank some time to stablize some. It has a few inhabitants, a madarin, yellow tang, small cleaner wrasse, cleaner shrimp, and a CUC. Not to mention the corals. will take time to get the tank ready for what I have planned. Once I have a finalized list, I will post it to get comments before purchasing.

 

[LisaD]

you can probably get the triggers you are considering locally. however, if you order online, I have had great experiences with liveaquaria (especially Diver's Den which are shipped from Rhinelander, WI) and reefhotspot.